The Irish standard., 1887-01-22
THE OUTLOOK FOR IRELAND.
The Chicago Citizen" Looks on The
Bright Side Of the Present Con-
dition of Irish Affairs.
EUROPEAN WAR IMMINENT.
The Affect Such an Event Would Haye on
Ireland's Desire to Secure
Self-Government.
Chicago Citizen J

Chicago Citizen)
IT things are not just SO bright in
Ireland as they might be, they are yet
full of hope. 1t is sad fact that Home
Rule is defeated for the present, but
nothing short Of a political miracle can
keep it from Ireland in the long run. It
may be year or even three years be-
fore an Irish Parliament assemblies in
Dublin, but that it will assemble there
in the near future, there can hardly be
a doubt. Everything points to the fact
that some measure Of self government
will be accorded to Ireland A great
deal will, OF course, depend on the as
pect of foreign politics. If z European
war were to come, and if any combina~
tion of the powers should take place
that would tend to isolate England, Or
be adverse 10 her, both the English To
5ies and the Liberal Jnionists would be
willing to grant almost anything to lre
land in order to pacify the Irish athome
and abroad.
While the latest European news is
more peaceful than it was some weeks
ago, there is Yet strong probability
that this year will not pass over with
out serious trouble on the continent Of
Europe. The whole thing will depend
OH the action of Germany. She is,
whether for good OF for evil, the arbiter
in European politics, II she sides with
England, Home Rule may not come so
quickly as the Irish think, but if she
sides With Russia, Home Rule is as
sured. The grand question then is. how
will Germany go?
This question is not very easily solved;
but there are strong reasons for believ-
ing that the report recently circulated
about a secret alliance between Ger
many and Russia is true. It has, of
course, been ntradicted from appar-
emily high quarters. This should not
surprise any one; it is in the interest OF
those who made the treaty to contradict
it; it WAS intended that it should be
kept a secret; but it is very hard in
these days for even despotic powers like
Russia and Germany to do anything at
fecting hundreds of millions OF people
that will net leak out somewaY. 1t is
very natural that Germany should want
to be on good terms with Russia, at
least for the present their interests do
not in anyway clash; however their sub
jects may hate cne another; whereas
the interests of Russia and England,
and Of Germany and England, do clash
even at present, and are even more
likely to clash III the future. The fact is
that almost all Of the powers of conti-
mental Europe dislike, and are jealous
Of England-principally from the fact
Of her possessing almost all parts of ths
globe where the Caucasian race could
establish colonies. While Germany
was split into half dozen petty states,
and had no idea ct establishing colon
les, England and she had hardly any
subject between them about which they
could be jealous of each other; butnow
things arewholly different. Germany has
become a great united power. She wants
two things to make her permanently
great, and these are the German speak
ing provinces OF Austria, and colonial
expansion. The annexation of the 6 er-
man part Of Austria to the German en-
pire would mean the total ruin of Aus
tria and her etfacement from the map of
Europe. Such q thing is very likely to
occur, but it could never occur except
against the will of England and with
the will Of Russia. The latter power
would not object to the complete unfit
cation Of German provided the Slay-
onic peoples, who constitute fully half
of the Austrian empire, were made
either subjects or dependents of the
czar.
But it is in the matter Of colonial en-
pire that the interests of Germany and |
England principally clash. Where can
Germany establish colonies unless she
interferes with English interests? She
is bound to have some temperate climate !
to which German emigration may be di-
rected in the future, where Germans
will not become denationalized and lose
heir language. Australia, New Zea-
and, and South Africa are about the
only countries that would suit for Ger
nan emigration, but England bosses
;hem that Germany is looking on
;hem with an avaricious eye, there can
oe no possible DOUBT. It is only a few
weeks ago since an article appeared in
! great German paper advising Germans
% emigrate to Australia in order that
It some future time they might be
handy to Germany. when trouble should.
rise between her and England. This
nay be looked upon as mere German
'blague;" but even it not taken as abso